Circulating Cell-Free DNA from Colorectal Cancer Patients May Reveal High KRAS or BRAF Mutation Load

Our data might suggest a very high variation in the proportion of malignant cells in colorectal tumors and/or low tumor cell clonogenicity. However, the direct relationship between these data and the proportion of malignant cells is currently uncertain as the mechanism of ccfDNA release determines the yield (necrosis, apoptosis, or active release). Therefore, interindividual comparison of the proportion of mutant allele determined from circulating DNA could appear somewhat more difficult to interpret; however, this parameter could be an efficient biomarker for monitoring or following up CRC patients and could be combined with size fraction analysis, as demonstrated in this study, to provide a deeper examination toward this goal.     

Sur le nid et la biologie deMacrotermes gilvus Holmgr. Dans les rizières du Cambodge

Résumé Macrotermes gilvus est fréquent dans les rizières de la plaine du Mékong, inondées plusieurs mois chaque année. L'architecture des nids est décrite et comparée à celle d'autres régions.Le problème de l'alimentation des Termites pendant les hautes eaux est examiné; il semble que les meules à champignons jouent le rôle de réserves alimentaires, permettant la survie des sociétés.

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Summary Macrotermes gilvus is common in the paddy-fields of the Mekong plain which are inondated for several months of the year. The architecture of the nests is described and compared with that of nests from the other regions.The problem of the food supply of these Termites during floods is examined. The fungus gardens appear to be food reserves that enable the survival of the colonies.

     

Nest-building by the virgin female mouse exposed to ultrasound from inaccessible pups

When a naïve virgin female mouse is exposed to an inaccessible litter so that it perceives the odour and the ultrasounds from the pups, its nest-building behaviour undergoes changes that are different from changes occurring in a control condition providing exposure to an inaccessible adult female. Virgin females exposed to a litter built their nest as near as possible to the pups. Other characteristics of their nest-building behaviour were influenced differently according to the type of ultrasound that the pups were emitting. In a condition where pups were mainly calling in response to cold, virgin females built heavier nests than control females. When mainly calls in response to handling were given by the pups, the females built lighter nests than control females. Finally, there was also some suggestion that the females exposed to ultrasounds from handled pups tended to chew the nest-material more than either control females or females exposed to ultrasound from cooled pups.